Silent effusion removal
AssigneeAcclarent, Inc.
InventorsJohn H. Morriss, Greg Liu, Rohit Girotra, Tom Thanh Vo, Richard R. Newhauser, JR., Thomas R. Jenkins, Joshua Makower
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is disclosed for clearing effusion from an ear. The method may include applying liquid to an ear canal, which is proximal to a perforated tympanic membrane, which is proximal to a middle ear containing effusion, applying an ear device to seal and pressurize the liquid inside the ear canal, the ear device regulating the amount of pressure inside the ear canal, and inducing a Eustachian tube, which is distal to the middle ear, to open, which causes the fluid to displace the effusion into the Eustachian tube.
Claims21
1-31. (canceled)
A device for silently removing liquid from a patient's ear canal, the device comprising:
- (a) a tube, wherein the tube comprises at least one inner lumen extending between a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the tube is sized and shaped to be received within the ear canal, wherein the distal end includes a wicking tip configured to wick liquid from the ear canal;
- and
- (b) a suction source, wherein the suction source is coupled with the proximal end of the tube and in fluid communication with the distal end of the tube through the at least one inner lumen;
- wherein the suction source is operable to generate negative pressure to evacuate air or liquid proximate to the distal end of the tube through the wicking tip and the at least one inner lumen, wherein the at least one inner lumen is sized and configured to reduce noise during the evacuation of air or liquid from the ear canal.
A device for silently removing liquid from a patient's ear canal, the device comprising:
- (a) a cannula, wherein the cannula defines a lumen extending between a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end is configured to be inserted into the ear canal;
- (b) a filter, wherein the filter is disposed within the lumen, wherein the filter includes a distal portion extending distally beyond the lumen at the distal end of the cannula;
- and
- (c) a suction source, wherein the suction source is coupled to the cannula at the proximal end, wherein the suction source is operable to suction air or liquid proximate to the distal end through the lumen;
- wherein the filter is configured to convey sound from the distal end of the cannula toward the proximal end during the suction of air or liquid by the suction catheter to thereby buffer sound at the distal end of the cannula.
A device for silently removing liquid from a patient's ear canal, the device comprising:
- (a) a tube, wherein the tube comprises a plurality of inner lumens, wherein the inner lumens are parallel with each other and are offset from each other, wherein the tube has an outer diameter between approximately 1 mm and approximately 3 mm, wherein each lumen of the plurality of inner lumens has an inner diameter between approximately 0.05 mm and approximately 0.5 mm;
- and
- (b) a suction source, in fluid communication with the distal end of the tube through the inner lumens;
- wherein the tube and the suction source are configured to cooperate to draw fluid from within an ear canal of a patient via the inner lumens.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.